If I must die/ let it bring hope/ let it be a tale (100% to an individual family in Gaza)
My wood girls like to give back when they can, either as a group or as individual pieces.
This small automata piece was inspired by the poem by Refaat Alareer (1979 - 2023, killed in a targeted Israeli airstrike):
If I must die,
you must live
to tell my story
to sell my things
to buy a piece of cloth
and some strings,
(make it white with a long tail)
so that a child, somewhere in Gaza
while looking heaven in the eye
awaiting his dad who left in a blaze–
and bid no one farewell
not even to his flesh
not even to himself–
sees the kite, my kite you made, flying up above
and thinks for a moment an angel is there
bringing back love
If I must die
let it bring hope
let it be a tale
Made of wood and wire, this gently moving piece features a small figure wearing a keffiyeh standing atop a mound covered in poppies, the national flower of Palestine. They are flying a white paper kite with a rainbow tail. When the handle is turned, the figure turns from side to side, moving the string of the kite gently, you can see a Reel of it in use pinned to the top of my Instagram gallery. The kite is on a piece of wire fitted into a small hole behind the figure, and can also move a little. The piece honours the resilience of the Palestinian people and hopes to bring a little joy into a world where it can be hard to know where even to look for it.
By purchasing this girl, you will be donating directly to a family in Gaza - a mother who finds herself caring for her elderly parents as well as her children. She often asks me to share her GoFundMe but I would also like to raise some funds for a donation to her also.
100% of the purchase price of this piece will be donated to the family in Gaza through their GoFundMe, and you get to keep a specially made wood girl to remind you that resistance is existence. UK shipping is free.
The total height is approximately 30cm.
My pieces are painted in a naïve and simple style, with visible brush strokes and differing paint consistencies. It is important to note that these dolls are made from real wood which will have naturally occurring markings and grain, and sometimes there will be small amount of bleeding along the grain, which is to be expected when using untreated wood - please make sure you consult the pictures carefully before purchasing. Finished in a top coat of matt acrylic.
Stamped underneath with 'blue bear' in red ink.
Please note: THIS IS NOT A TOY and should be kept out of the reach of children. This is a piece with moving wooden parts which may be affected by humidity over time.
